Distressed with the Senate's failure to tackle New Jersey's property tax crisis, a coalition of reform groups has asked for a meeting with Acting Governor and Senate President Codey. The tax reform advocates will ask the Acting Governor to take the lead in efforts to address our over-reliance on property taxes and its effects on low and moderate income citizens, this year.

The coalition includes the Citizens for Property Tax Reform, AARP New Jersey, The New Jersey League of Women Voters, Citizens for the Public Good, New Jersey Future, the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, New Jersey Policy Perspective, various local civic associations and the New Jersey League of Municipalities.

Writing on behalf of the reform advocates, League of Municipalities' Executive Director Bill Dressel reminded Senate President Codey, "Today, in New Jersey, there are senior and disabled citizens struggling to remain in the communities that they helped to build. Today, in New Jersey, there are young couples forced to defer or abandon the dream of home ownership in their native State. And today, in New Jersey, there are widows and widowers hoping to avoid the painful day when they'll be forced to tear up carefully cultivated roots, leave family and life-long friendships behind, and relocated to a State with a more rational tax policy.

"So today, in New Jersey, those of us who really care about those real people with real problems need to do all we can to advance a solution to our State's chronic over-reliance on regressive property taxes. Despite what some say, waiting will hurt many more New Jerseyans. So delay is no longer an option. …

"The people of New Jersey want the Senate to act on the property tax crisis this year. They ask nothing more than that. They deserve nothing less. And we firmly believe that your leadership can make it happen, but only if you act soon."

The Constitutional deadline for Senate action on the citizens' convention proposal, which passed the Assembly on May 16, is now less than a month away. The coalition hopes to meet with Codey by July 19.

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For more information, please contact Mr. Bill Dressel, Executive Director at 609-695-3481, ext. 22 or by cell at 609-915-9072

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 Trenton, NJ TAX REFORM ADVOCATES ASK GOVERNOR FOR MEETING Distressed with the Senate's failure to tackle New Jersey's property tax crisis, a coalition of reform groups has asked for a meeting with Acting Governor and Senate President Codey. The tax reform advocates will ask the Acting Governor to take the lead in efforts to address our over-reliance on property taxes and its effects on low and moderate income citizens, this year. The coalition includes the Citizens for Property Tax Reform, AARP New Jersey, The New Jersey League of Women Voters, Citizens for the Public Good, New Jersey Future, the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, New Jersey Policy Perspective, various local civic associations and the New Jersey League of Municipalities. Writing on behalf of the reform advocates, League of Municipalities' Executive Director Bill Dressel reminded Senate President Codey, "Today, in New Jersey, there are senior and disabled citizens struggling to remain in the communities that they helped to build. Today, in New Jersey, there are young couples forced to defer or abandon the dream of home ownership in their native State. And today, in New Jersey, there are widows and widowers hoping to avoid the painful day when they'll be forced to tear up carefully cultivated roots, leave family and life-long friendships behind, and relocated to a State with a more rational tax policy. "So today, in New Jersey, those of us who really care about those real people with real problems need to do all we can to advance a solution to our State's chronic over-reliance on regressive property taxes. Despite what some say, waiting will hurt many more New Jerseyans. So delay is no longer an option. … "The people of New Jersey want the Senate to act on the property tax crisis this year. They ask nothing more than that. They deserve nothing less. And we firmly believe that your leadership can make it happen, but only if you act soon." The Constitutional deadline for Senate action on the citizens' convention proposal, which passed the Assembly on May 16, is now less than a month away. The coalition hopes to meet with Codey by July 19. * * * * * * For more information, please contact Mr. Bill Dressel, Executive Director at 609-695-3481, ext. 22 or by cell at 609-915-9072 or at bdressel@njslom.com.